Band:	Al-Namrood
Album:	Al Aqrab
Style:	Black metal, Oriental folk metal
Release date:	June 2024
A review by:	F3ynman

01. Ardh Bela Sama
02. Lisan Al Nar
03. Aqarib Al Petra
04. Taht Al Jeld
05. Al Ghasasina
06. Diar Al Anbat
07. Abwab Edom
08. Al Jurm Al Madfoon
09. Tarjif

Breaking the law! Breaking the law!

The spirit of metal is rooted in strong emotions. Often these emotions are expressed in acts of rebellion. Rebellion against an established system, societal norms, or organized institutions. We all know the origins of kvlt black metal in Scandinavia and the public outcry at the anti-religious and Satanic themes of that genre. Those black metal artists may have been scorned by their neighbors, but, in Western countries that promote the freedom of expression, they would never have to worry about any fatal consequences at the hands of the government. Sadly, not all countries on our planet allow the same amount of freedom, and, in some, voicing criticism against an organized religion is a guaranteed death sentence.

This is the unfortunate case of Al-Namrood, a band of talented black metal musicians that must remain anonymous to evade the persecution of their Saudi Arabian government. They're named after the Babylonian king Nimrod, who, according to some Biblical interpretations and legends, was the builder of the Tower of Babel and is thus associated with defiance towards God. Similarly, Al-Namrood are critical of the use of Islam as an oppressive political system. At least, that's what I've gathered from interviews and other research. The actual lyrics are in Arabic and not even officially published, thus making it basically impossible for me to independently interpret.

What I can judge is the way they sound, which, I can tell you, ain't too bad at all. Now, mixing traditional black metal tremolo-riffing with oriental elements isn't anything new in the metal world, with the most well-known proponent of this style being Melechesh. But, while Melechesh focus on being loud and fast, combining melody with technical guitar-work, Al-Namrood focus more on creating an atmospheric experience. Instead of crazily intertwining, high-speed guitar playing, the music of Al-Namrood is based on repetitive, hypnotic rhythm. Their hymns sound quite unique and authentically oriental with the additional use of traditional folk string instruments like the qanun and the oud. The vocals top off this great performance, with the heavy use of extended, raspy wailing sounding like they're coming straight from the cursed throat of a howling djinn.

Al Aqrab (“The Scorpion”) offers an enjoyable balance of ambience and black metal groove. Instrumental interludes like “Taht Al Jeld” demonstrate an alluring, mystical vibe, while tracks like “Al Jurm Al Madfoon” prove that Al-Namrood can spice up their atmosphere with some gnarly, catchy riffs. There are also some surprises to be found, like the instrumental outro track, which—quite uncharacteristically—sounds more like thrash than black metal.

Al-Namrood are a very prolific band, releasing with Al Aqrab their 9th album in 15 years. Overall, their sound hasn't changed all too much, so one could criticize a lack of originality, perhaps. But, their style of combining enticing ambience, menacing black metal, and vocals of howling rage is just so enjoyable that I'd be happy to hear plenty more of their songs. In conclusion, with a consistent performance and entertaining songwriting, Al Aqrab is another great record that's recommended for those who wish to traverse the mysterious Arabian sands and soundscapes.